USA Rare Earth uzavřela definitivní dohody o strategické investici do Carester a získá přibližně 13,6% podíl. Partnerství má posílit evropský řetězec vzácných zemin a přístup k produkci z Caremag v Lacq ve Francii, jehož provoz má začít ve 4. čtvrtletí 2026.
Formalizes the Strategic Investment and Commercial Framework Between the Companies Announced in April 2026
Strengthens USA Rare Earth's Midstream Rare Earth Platform in Europe and the Integrated Industrial Ecosystem Forming in Lacq, France
Carester’s Caremag Facility to Commence Operations in Q4 2026
Provides LCM Europe and USA Rare Earth Access to Carester’s Rare Earth Oxides; Gives Carester Access to USA Rare Earth Feedstock from Serra Verde and Round Top
STILLWATER, Okla., July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) (the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire strategic minority stakes representing approximately 13.6 percent each in Carester SAS (“Carester”), a French leader in rare earth processing and separation. InfraVia, acting through its Critical Metals Fund, seeded by the French State as an anchor investor alongside private institutional capital, is acquiring a similar stake in Carester alongside USA Rare Earth.
The agreements finalize the strategic investment and commercial framework the parties announced in April 2026. In addition to targeting healthy returns, USA Rare Earth and its subsidiary Less Common Metals (“LCM”) Europe will have the ability to purchase a portion of Carester’s oxide output from its Caremag facility. USA Rare Earth will have access to Carester’s engineering capabilities and related intellectual property for separation, processing, and recycling. In turn, Carester will have access to USA Rare Earth feedstock sources, including Serra Verde and the Round Top deposit in Texas.
"Integrating Carester’s capabilities into our global platform brings additional advanced processing optionality into our integrated value chain, further supporting our mining, metal making and magnet manufacturing businesses," said Barbara Humpton, Chief Executive Officer of USA Rare Earth. "This is also a highly strategic financial investment, as Carester’s position as one of the few facilities outside of China capable of separating heavy rare earths beginning in 2027 can provide a distinct competitive advantage. We anticipate that this scarcity, coupled with accelerating demand for secure critical materials, can drive sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders."
Founded in 2019, Carester is a French specialist in rare earth processing and separation technologies, with decades of technical expertise across the value chain from raw material sourcing through high-purity rare earth oxides. Carester is currently building its Caremag magnet recycling and heavy rare earth separation facility in Lacq, France, scheduled for commissioning in late 2026 with an anticipated annual production when fully ramped of 800 tonnes per annum (tpa) of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, 500 tpa of dysprosium (Dy) oxide and 100 tpa of terbium (Tb) oxide. The facility’s Dy and Tb oxide production is expected to represent approximately 15% of current world production of these magnetic heavy rare earth oxides.
Proceeds will primarily fund Carester’s next phase of growth, including expansion of its rare earth processing and separation platform (Caremag), research and development, and working capital. As a condition to completion of the strategic investment, a portion of the joint investment will fund the acquisition of minority shareholders’ interest, resulting in their full exit. Funding is expected in the third quarter of 2026, subject to remaining customary conditions.
The investment is part of a broader partnership between USA Rare Earth, LCM Europe, and Carester to build an integrated rare earth industrial platform in Lacq, France, spanning processing, separation, metal and alloy production, and potentially magnet manufacturing. In parallel, USA Rare Earth, through LCM Europe, is developing a 3,750 mtpa metal and alloy production facility at the same location. Together, these projects are intended to form one of Europe’s most complete rare earth industrial ecosystems and to advance a secure, Western-aligned value chain across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
The Lacq platform builds on the French government’s previously announced support for the LCM Europe metallization and alloy project, including direct credits under the C3IV program of up to 45 percent of eligible equipment and real estate, up to €130 million, and Bpifrance Assurance Export’s readiness to consider a state guarantee (Garantie des Projets Stratégiques) covering 50 percent of commercial debt financing for project capital expenditures.
Transaction Advisors
Moelis & Company LLC acted as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor to USA Rare Earth.
About USA Rare Earth
USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) is building a fully integrated rare earth and permanent magnet value chain across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Through its ownership of Less Common Metals Ltd. (LCM) and development of magnet manufacturing capacity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA Rare Earth operates across the entire value chain, from heavy rare earth processing to metal-making, alloy production, and neodymium magnet manufacturing. By combining domestic feedstock from the Round Top deposit with advanced processing technologies, recycling capabilities, and an expanding European industrial footprint, USA Rare Earth is establishing a secure, Western-aligned supply of materials essential to defense, electrification, robotics, energy, and advanced manufacturing.
About Carester
Founded in 2019 by Frédéric Carencotte and a team of international experts, Carester is a French company specializing in the refining of rare earth elements, critical materials for advanced technologies. The company is a leader in the separation and production of highly valuable heavy rare earth oxides including praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), terbium (Tb), and dysprosium (Dy), all critical components of permanent magnets. Carester processes both mined and recycled material, and its proprietary software intellectual property enables customers to optimize oxide formulations for specific use cases.
About InfraVia Capital Partners
Founded in 2008, InfraVia is a leading independent private capital firm specialized in real assets (infrastructure, critical metals, real estate) and technology investments. InfraVia is a conviction-driven investor focusing on resilient assets and long-term value creation through active, hands-on asset management. Headquartered in Paris, InfraVia is 100 percent partner-owned. InfraVia manages more than EUR 20 billion of capital and has invested in more than 60 companies across Europe.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements regarding the Company’s investment in Carester and the timing and completion of that investment, the development of Carester’s Caremag facility and LCM Europe’s planned metal and alloy production facility in Lacq, France, the Company’s role in establishing a midstream and downstream rare earth and magnet value chain in Europe, and USAR’s expectations for future development, operations, strategies, transactions and financial performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Words such as “anticipate,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “growth,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “propose,” “should,” “target,” “vision,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including without limitation: the investment in Carester is subject to remaining customary conditions and may not be completed on the terms contemplated or at all; Carester’s Caremag facility in Lacq, France is under construction and has not commenced commercial operation, and its commissioning may be delayed; the proposed transactions with Serra Verde Group and Texas Mineral Resources Corp. may not be consummated on their anticipated timelines or at all; we may not realize the anticipated benefits of our proposed and prior acquisitions, including expected synergies, financial performance, estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and, in the case of Serra Verde, integration of operations, on the anticipated timeline or at all; the ability of our magnet manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma (the “Stillwater facility”) or other future magnet manufacturing facilities to commence commercial operations on the timing and with the production capacity anticipated or at all; our limited operating history; our ability to commercially extract minerals from the Round Top deposit in Texas on our anticipated timeline or at all; risks that we may experience delays, unforeseen expenses, increased capital costs, and other complications in operating our business; our ability to raise necessary capital on acceptable terms or at all; potential dilution to existing stockholders and adverse effect on our stock price if we issue additional common stock or equity-linked securities; the volatility of our stock price; our ability to satisfy project milestones and other conditions to disbursement under our financing arrangement with the DOC on the anticipated timeline or at all; our dependence on continued governmental support for the DOC financing transactions, which remains subject to changes in laws, regulations, administrations and appropriations; extensive affirmative and negative covenants, domestic content and national security guardrail provisions and ongoing reporting obligations in the DOC financing agreements that restrict our operational and financial flexibility; the risk that defaults under the DOC funding agreements could trigger cross-defaults across our financing arrangements; the impact of the DOC’s equity interest in us on our ability to pursue strategic transactions and on our relationships with customers, suppliers, partners and other counterparties; the availability of rare earth oxide, metal feedstock and other materials, utilities (including power and water) and equipment in quantities and prices that allow us to develop and commercially operate our Stillwater facility and other facilities; our ability to meet individual customer specifications and manufacture a consistently high quality product; fluctuations in demand for and prices of our products, including without limitation as a result of dumping, predatory pricing and other tactics by our competitors or state actors or the overall competitive environment; our ability to achieve positive cash flow or profitability or the ability to access cash flow within our corporate structure due to restrictions contained in our financing agreements; our ability to convert current commercial discussions and/or memorandums of understanding with customers for the sale of our neo magnets and other products into definitive orders; geopolitical developments or disruptions, such as changes in the political environment, export/import or environmental policy of the People’s Republic of China, the United States or other countries in which we operate or sell products or otherwise; limitations imposed on our business by the Chinese government; war, terrorism, natural disasters or public health emergencies; our ability to retain or recruit key personnel; environmental, health and safety regulations; and our ability to comply with requirements for federal, state and local government incentives and financing.
Additional risks and detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially has been and will be included in our filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report (or such other date as is specified in such statements), and USAR undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except to the extent required by law.
USA Rare Earth oznámila změnu vedení: Barbara Humptonová odejde 1. října 2026 a generálním ředitelem se stane Thras Moraitis. Michael Blitzer byl s okamžitou platností zvolen výkonným předsedou představenstva.
Barbara Humpton to retire and Thras Moraitis to become CEO, both effective October 1, 2026
Michael Blitzer elected Executive Chairman, effective immediately
STILLWATER, Okla., July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) (“USAR”, “USA Rare Earth”, or the “Company”), announced today that Barbara Humpton will retire as Chief Executive Officer and Board Director on October 1, 2026. USAR’s Board of Directors has named Thras Moraitis, current CEO of the Serra Verde Group (“Serra Verde”) and a highly experienced operator in the rare earths industry, as Ms. Humpton’s successor. Mr. Moraitis will assume the CEO role on October 1, 2026, following the anticipated completion of USAR’s combination with Serra Verde by the end of August. During the interim period, Mr. Moraitis will continue to oversee the combined company’s operations as President.
Michael Blitzer, current Chairman of USAR's Board and significant shareholder in the Company, has been elected Executive Chairman, effective immediately. Since its public listing, he has played a central role in setting USAR’s strategic direction, anchoring its vision to build a global mine-to-magnet value chain and identifying organic and inorganic growth opportunities. He also helped lead USAR’s efforts to obtain U.S. government financing, including by personally agreeing to restrictions on the transfer of his USAR common stock until certain strategic funding release milestones under the government financing are satisfied.
Ms. Humpton has been instrumental in steering USAR’s mine-to-magnet strategy, overseeing company milestones that have fundamentally transformed the Western critical minerals landscape. Under her leadership, USAR secured landmark public-private partnerships and established a global footprint spanning critical processing, metals, and magnet capabilities. She has also helped establish a culture that attracts the best and brightest minds across the sector.
Mr. Moraitis has served as Chief Executive Officer of Serra Verde since January 2023 and has an unparalleled track record of operational execution, strategic development and transaction leadership in the rare earths sector. Over his tenure, Serra Verde transformed into the only large-scale producer of the four critical magnetic rare earths outside of Asia and a pioneer of the Brazilian rare earths sector. In April 2026, Serra Verde entered into a definitive agreement to combine with USAR, creating a platform to support the first fully integrated, Western mine-to-magnet supply chain. Prior to Serra Verde, Mr. Moraitis served on the Executive Committee of Xstrata, led by CEO Sir Mick Davis, where he and the team grew Xstrata into a US$65B company, ultimately selling it to Glencore in 2013.
”On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Barbara for her leadership and contributions to USA Rare Earth – including securing landmark public-private agreements, advancing our global mine-to-magnet strategy and building an exceptional portfolio of industry leading assets,” said Michael Blitzer, Executive Chairman of USA Rare Earth’s Board of Directors. “With the Serra Verde combination nearing completion and our overall focus shifting to execution, Barbara and the Board agree this is the right time for a leadership transition. Thras is among a rare group of leaders in this industry, with a proven record of carrying companies through integration and large-scale project execution, honed over his many years helping build Xstrata. He knows what it takes to build an industry champion, and his relentless focus on operational excellence will be invaluable as we ramp to full production and scale. We are confident Thras is the right leader to guide USAR through this pivotal next chapter and deliver lasting value for all our stakeholders."
“When I joined USAR, I said this work was about being part of a mission that matters: strengthening national security, advancing American industrial competitiveness and building the critical supply chains required for the future,” said Ms. Humpton. “With the close of the Serra Verde transaction approaching and focus shifting to execution, the Board and I agree this is the right time to pass the torch to Thras. I could not be more grateful to the USAR team for what we have built, and the Board and our partners for their collaboration and commitment to those efforts. I look forward to supporting Thras and the team, and watching them execute on the transformative work that lies ahead.”
Mr. Moraitis concluded, “I am honored and excited to take on this role and grateful to Barbara for the strong foundation she has built. Over the past year, under Barbara’s leadership, the company has been transformed into a leading rare earth platform with enormous potential for growth. Through the merger integration preparation, I have become deeply familiar with USAR's operations across all steps in the value chain, its mission-critical ambitions and the importance of what it is building. Mike, the Board and I are all closely aligned in our vision for USAR: to create a platform comprising all components of the rare earth value chain, with the scale and capabilities to lead this industry globally. The rare earth industry and our customers are facing the unprecedented challenge of building secure, integrated supply chains to power the vital technologies propelling our society forward. Together, with our team and partners around the world, we will rise to this challenge.”
Additional Details About Thras Moraitis
Prior to joining Serra Verde in 2023, Mr. Moraitis served as Chief Development Officer and a member of the Executive Board of EuroChem Group AG. Mr. Moraitis was also a co-founder of X2 Resources, a US$5.6B mining investment fund. He previously served as Group Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs and as a member of the Executive Committee of Xstrata Plc, where he was responsible for strategic development, post-acquisition integration, leadership development, external affairs and investor relations as well as Xstrata’s technology business. He has been involved in approximately 40 transactions over the course of his career and currently serves as an advisor to Vision Blue Resources. Mr. Moraitis holds an honors BSc in Electrical Engineering, a postgraduate qualification in Computer Science and an MBA.
About Michael Blitzer
Michael Blitzer is a Founder and Managing Partner of Inflection Point, the leading financial sponsor of companies at the intersection of national security, technology, and critical infrastructure. Across eight announced or closed public listings, he has led Inflection Point’s portfolio of strategically important assets, including more than US$5B of capital raised to catalyze growth across the portfolio. He has led billions of dollars in strategic M&A to scale portfolio companies into public leaders in their respective industries. As the financial sponsor and Chairman of USA Rare Earth since its 2025 public listing, Mr. Blitzer has overseen a nearly tenfold increase in market capitalization through M&A and the landmark US$1.6B public-private partnership with the United States Government.
About USA Rare Earth, Inc.
USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) is building a fully integrated rare earth and permanent magnet value chain across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as plans for expansion in France and Brazil. Through its ownership of Less Common Metals (LCM), one of the world’s leading producers of rare earth metals and alloys, its magnet manufacturing capacity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the planned acquisition of the Pela Ema mine in Brazil (subject to closing the Serra Verde Group transaction) and the Round Top deposit in Texas, USA Rare Earth operates across the entire value chain from mining to metal-making, alloy production and neodymium magnet manufacturing. USA Rare Earth is establishing a secure, Western supply of materials essential to the aerospace and defense, semiconductor, energy, data center, physical AI, mobility, healthcare and other key industrial sectors. For more information, visit www.usare.com.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements regarding USAR’s expectations for future development, operations, strategies, transactions and financial performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Words such as “anticipate,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “growth,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “propose,” “should,” “target,” “vision,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including without limitation: risks that the proposed transactions with Serra Verde Group, Carester SAS and Texas Mineral Resources Corp. may not be consummated on their anticipated timelines or at all; we may not realize the anticipated benefits of our proposed and prior acquisitions, including expected synergies, financial performance, estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and, in the case of Serra Verde, integration of operations, on the anticipated timeline or at all; the ability of our magnet manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma (the “Stillwater facility”) or other future magnet manufacturing facilities to commence commercial operations on the timing and with the production capacity anticipated or at all; our limited operating history; our ability to commercially extract minerals from the Round Top deposit in Texas on our anticipated timeline or at all; risks that we may experience delays, unforeseen expenses, increased capital costs, and other complications in operating our business; our ability to raise necessary capital on acceptable terms or at all; potential dilution to existing stockholders and adverse effect on our stock price if we issue additional common stock or equity-linked securities; the volatility of our stock price; our ability to satisfy project milestones and other conditions to disbursement under our financing arrangement with the DOC on the anticipated timeline or at all; our dependence on continued governmental support for the DOC financing transactions, which remains subject to changes in laws, regulations, administrations and appropriations; extensive affirmative and negative covenants, domestic content and national security guardrail provisions and ongoing reporting obligations in the DOC financing agreements that restrict our operational and financial flexibility; the risk that defaults under the DOC funding agreements could trigger cross-defaults across our financing arrangements; the impact of the DOC’s equity interest in us on our ability to pursue strategic transactions and on our relationships with customers, suppliers, partners and other counterparties; the availability of rare earth oxide, metal feedstock and other materials, utilities (including power and water) and equipment in quantities and prices that allow us to develop and commercially operate our Stillwater facility and other facilities; our ability to meet individual customer specifications and manufacture a consistently high quality product; fluctuations in demand for and prices of our products, including without limitation as a result of dumping, predatory pricing and other tactics by our competitors or state actors or the overall competitive environment; our ability to achieve positive cash flow or profitability or the ability to access cash flow within our corporate structure due to restrictions contained in our financing agreements; our ability to convert current commercial discussions and/or memorandums of understanding with customers for the sale of our neo magnets and other products into definitive orders; geopolitical developments or disruptions, such as changes in the political environment, export/import or environmental policy of the People’s Republic of China, the United States or other countries in which we operate or sell products or otherwise; limitations imposed on our business by the Chinese government; war, terrorism, natural disasters or public health emergencies; our ability to retain or recruit key personnel; environmental, health and safety regulations; and our ability to comply with requirements for federal, state and local government incentives and financing.
Additional risks and detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially has been and will be included in our filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report (or such other date as is specified in such statements), and USAR undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except to the extent required by law.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with our business combination with Serra Verde (the “Serra Verde Merger”), USAR filed the Preliminary Proxy Statement and, following SEC review, intends to file a definitive proxy statement (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”), to be distributed to USAR’s stockholders in connection with USAR’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by USAR’s stockholders with respect to the issuance of USAR common stock as merger consideration and other matters described in the Proxy Statement. SVRE’s shareholders approved the merger by written consent which was delivered concurrently with the signing of the merger agreement and will not receive a proxy statement or prospectus. USAR also plans to file with or furnish to the SEC other relevant documents regarding the Serra Verde Merger. After SEC review of the preliminary proxy statement is completed, the definitive Proxy Statement will be mailed to stockholders of USAR. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE OR WILL BE FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents containing important information about USAR and the Serra Verde Merger, once such documents are filed with or furnished to the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by USAR will be available free of charge on USAR’s website at investors.usare.com or by contacting USAR’s Investor Relations department by email at [email protected]. The information included on, or accessible through, USAR’s website is not incorporated by reference into this communication.
Participants in the Solicitation
USAR and certain of its directors and executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the Serra Verde Merger.
Information about the directors and executive officers of USAR, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in USAR’s Preliminary Proxy Statement. Any changes in the holdings of USAR’s securities by USAR’s directors or executive officers from the amounts described in the Preliminary Proxy Statement will be reflected in Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4 (“Form 4”) or Annual Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 5 (“Form 5”) subsequently filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the Proxy Statement when available.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval on the Serra Verde Merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an applicable exemption therefrom.
Investor Contact
JB Lowe
Vice President, Investor Relations
USA Rare Earth, Inc. [email protected]
USA Rare Earth oznámila, že ve Wheat Ridge vyrobila komerční vzorky oxidu dysprosia a oxidu neodymu-praseodymu z recyklovaného magnetického odpadu. Firma tím posiluje schopnost zpracovávat těžké vzácné zeminy mimo Asii.
July 14, 2026 07:00 ET | Source: USA Rare Earth, Inc.
Positions USA Rare Earth as one of few companies outside of Asia with the capability to separate heavy rare earths
Represents important step toward an integrated value chain that secures global supply for advanced manufacturing and critical industries
Broadens Company’s feedstock options to include recycled material, complementing planned oxide production from Round Top and Serra Verde concentrates
Samples to be sent to LCM for qualification; produced oxides to serve as feedstock to rare earth metal production, which supplies the Company’s magnet manufacturing facilities in the United States
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo., July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) ("USAR", "USA Rare Earth", or the "Company"), a rare earth, critical minerals and advanced materials company, today announced that its hydrometallurgical facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, has produced commercial-grade dysprosium (Dy) oxide and neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide samples from recycled rare earth magnet scrap, known in the industry as "swarf."
USA Rare Earth’s successful separation of commercial-grade Dy oxide and NdPr oxide at Wheat Ridge is a pivotal milestone, establishing the Company as one of the few Western producers capable of executing this technically demanding process outside Asia. By bridging world-class upstream resources with advanced separation and processing, metallization, and magnet manufacturing, the Company’s mission is to build the leading global rare earth and critical mineral value chain where each link reinforces the next. This achievement marks a critical step toward delivering a global, integrated solution to de-risk supply chains for defense, semiconductors, and physical AI infrastructure.
The Dy and NdPr oxides were produced using swarf, the fine scrap generated when neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are machined and finished, which in this case were sourced from the Company’s Stillwater, OK magnet manufacturing facility. Turning that scrap back into high-purity light and heavy rare earth oxide broadens the Company’s feedstock options and strengthens the circularity of its value chain, with swarf projected to support up to 30% of future magnetic rare earth oxide feedstock needs. This validation of the magnet swarf recycling flowsheet also lays the foundation to potentially incorporate end-of-life magnets as an additional commercial feedstock option.
The oxides produced at Wheat Ridge are expected to be sent to Less Common Metals (“LCM”), USA Rare Earth’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom, for qualification and for conversion into rare earth metals and strip cast. The output from LCM, which is one of the few commercial scale metal, alloy and strip cast producers outside of Asia, is expected to serve as feedstock for the Company’s magnet manufacturing facilities in the United States.
Dysprosium is one of the most technically challenging rare earth elements to separate at commercial purity, and today virtually all Dy oxide is produced in China. While NdPr provides the magnetic foundation of NdFeB permanent magnets, dysprosium is added in smaller quantities to allow magnets to retain performance and coercivity at high operating temperatures, a requirement of the aerospace, defense, electric vehicle, robotics and industrial motor applications that NdFeB magnets enable. Producers with the proven ability to separate heavy rare earths at commercial specification outside Asia remain scarce, and Dy availability is widely recognized as a primary constraint on the Western permanent magnet industry.
Today’s production milestone places USA Rare Earth in that small group and establishes swarf from magnet manufacturing as a feedstock stream back into the Company’s value chain, closing the loop between the Company’s downstream magnet manufacturing and its upstream separation. Additional campaigns underway at Wheat Ridge are expected to process material from the Company’s Round Top project and from Serra Verde’s Pela Ema mine. These campaigns are expected to produce additional varieties of rare earth and critical mineral oxides in the coming weeks, further advancing USA Rare Earth toward proven capability across every stage of the rare earth value chain: mining, separation and processing, metal and alloy making, and permanent magnet manufacturing.
About the Wheat Ridge Facility
The Wheat Ridge demonstration facility runs 24 hours a day and is fully instrumented for real-time process monitoring across every unit operation. The facility is built to digitally and physically simulate the Company’s future commercial-scale operation, and the data it generates flows directly into the engineering design of a planned consolidated separation facility, which will process both magnet swarf and mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC). This allows the team to validate its proprietary flowsheets and refine the commercial design using live operating data and physical testing rather than theory alone.
About USA Rare Earth, Inc.
USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) is building a fully integrated rare earth and permanent magnet value chain across the United States and the United Kingdom, with plans for expansion in France and Brazil. Through its ownership of Less Common Metals (LCM), one of the world’s leading producers of rare earth metals and alloys, its magnet manufacturing capacity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the planned acquisition of the Pela Ema mine in Brazil (subject to closing the Serra Verde Group transaction) and the Round Top deposit in Texas, USA Rare Earth operates across the entire value chain from mining to metal-making, alloy production and neodymium magnet manufacturing. USA Rare Earth is establishing a secure, Western supply of materials essential to the aerospace and defense, semiconductor, energy, data center, physical AI, mobility, healthcare and other key industrial sectors. For more information, visit www.usare.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those relating to the objectives, scope and anticipated benefits of the Wheat Ridge demonstration program; the Company’s ability to validate and optimize its processing and separation flowsheets and to produce separated oxides at commercial quality; the Company’s plans for a consolidated commercial separation facility for magnet swarf and mixed rare earth carbonate; and the Company’s global value chain strategy. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations, including without limitation: the Company’s ability to execute its business plan, including development of the Round Top deposit and its processing and manufacturing facilities; the timing and advancement of expected business milestones; the significant long-term and inherently risky investments the Company is making in mining and manufacturing facilities; the Company’s ability to obtain additional or replacement financing as needed; risks that the proposed transactions with Serra Verde Group, Carester SAS and Texas Mineral Resources Corp. may not be consummated on their anticipated timelines or at all; the Company may not realize the anticipated benefits of its proposed and prior acquisitions, including expected synergies, financial performance, estimated EBITDA and, in the case of Serra Verde Group, integration of operations, on the anticipated timeline or at all; the ability of the Company’s Stillwater facility or other future magnet manufacturing facilities to commence commercial operations on the timing and with the production capacity anticipated or at all; the Company’s limited operating history; risks that the Company may experience delays, unforeseen expenses, increased capital costs, and other complications in operating its business; potential dilution to existing stockholders and adverse effect on the Company’s stock price if the Company issues additional common stock or equity-linked securities; the volatility of the Company’s stock price; the Company’s ability to satisfy project milestones and other conditions to disbursement under the Company’s financing arrangement with the Department of Commerce (“DOC”) on the anticipated timeline or at all; the Company’s dependence on continued governmental support for the DOC financing transactions, which remains subject to changes in laws, regulations, administrations and appropriations; extensive affirmative and negative covenants, domestic content and national security guardrail provisions and ongoing reporting obligations in the DOC financing agreements that restrict the Company’s operational and financial flexibility; the risk that defaults under the DOC funding agreements could trigger cross-defaults across the Company’s financing arrangements; the impact of the DOC’s equity interest in the Company on the Company’s ability to pursue strategic transactions and on the Company’s relationships with customers, suppliers, partners and other counterparties; the availability of rare earth oxide, metal feedstock and other materials, utilities (including power and water) and equipment in quantities and prices that allow the Company to develop and commercially operate the Company’s Stillwater facility and other facilities; the Company’s ability to meet individual customer specifications and manufacture a consistently high quality product; fluctuations in demand for and prices of the Company’s products, including without limitation as a result of dumping, predatory pricing and other tactics by the Company’s competitors or state actors or the overall competitive environment; the Company’s ability to achieve positive cash flow or profitability or the ability to access cash flow within the Company’s corporate structure due to restrictions contained in the Company’s financing agreements; the Company’s ability to convert current commercial discussions and/or memorandums of understanding with customers for the sale of the Company’s neo magnets and other products into definitive orders; geopolitical developments or disruptions, such as changes in the political environment, export/import or environmental policy of the People’s Republic of China, the United States or other countries in which the Company operates or sells products or otherwise; war, terrorism, natural disasters or public health emergencies; the Company’s ability to retain or recruit key personnel; environmental, health and safety regulations; and the Company’s ability to comply with requirements for federal, state and local government incentives and financing.
Additional risks and detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially has been and will be included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release (or such other date as is specified in such statements), and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future developments except as required by law.
Investor Contact
JB Lowe
Vice President, Investor Relations
USA Rare Earth, Inc. [email protected]
USA Rare Earth v první polovině roku 2026 vzrostla o 81,3 % díky pokroku směrem k zahájení komerčního provozu a sérii pozitivních oznámení. V lednu akcie vyskočily o více než 88 %.
Underperforming the S&P 500, shares of USA Rare Earth (USAR 6.87%) inched 3.7% higher in 2025, while the index rose 16.4%. The first half of 2026, however, featured a very different story. According to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, shares of USA Rare Earth soared 81.3% through the first six months of 2026.
With analysts consistently providing bullish outlooks on the stock and the rare-earth company reporting progress toward commencing commercial operations, investors found sufficient cause to click the buy button over the past several months.
Image source: Getty Images.
Digging into the sources of this mining stock's rise It didn't take long after the ball dropped before investors started bidding USA Rare Earth stock higher. Shares rose more than 88% in January after the company announced a partnership with the French government to develop a metal and alloy production facility in France that management expects to commence operations in late 2026.
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Reporting progress toward the start of domestic operations, USA Rare Earth announced in late January that it had selected Fluor to assist with its Definitive Feasibility Study for the company's cornerstone Round Top Rare Earth Project in Texas. Plus, the company announced that it had signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce and entered into a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, totaling about $1.6 billion in federal funding. In addition, the company announced $1.5 billion in private funding provided by Inflection Point.
Analysts also espoused a more bullish outlook on USA Rare Earth stock in the early part of the new year. On Jan. 26, Roth Capital hiked its price target to $35 from $25, and the following day, Benchmark boosted its price target to 45 from $15.
Despite a strong start to the year, shares dipped in February and March. But the decline didn't persist. In April, USA Rare Earth stock headed higher after the company reported that its subsidiary had poured commercial-grade yttrium (a rare-earth metal) at its facility in the United Kingdom. The company lauded the achievement, characterizing it as a milestone that sets it apart as one of the few companies to do so outside China.
Another catalyst for the stock's rise in April was the company's announcement that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Serra Verde Group, a large-scale producer of all four magnetic rare-earths, including the valuable heavy rare-earth dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium, for about $2.8 billion. According to USA Rare Earth management, the acquisition will de-risk the company as Serra Verde is expected to achieve annualized run rate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $550-$650 million by the end of 2027.
How are things looking in the second half of the year? Despite the strong performance in the first half of 2026, the second half of the year hasn't provided much for investors to celebrate, with shares sinking more than 20% as of this writing since June 30. For a speculative stock such as USA Rare Earth, the volatility is to be expected. Thus, those with lower risk tolerances who are interested in growth stocks that provide rare-earth exposure will be more interested in a rare-earth ETF.
Akcie USA Rare Earth v červnu klesly o 23 % poté, co firma podala registrační dokument pro možný prodej 93,8 milionu akcií. Trh znervózněla také čínská omezení a spor s MP Materials.
Shares in USA Rare Earth (USAR 4.15%) fell by 23% in June, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. There are probably three unrelated reasons for the stock's decline this month. The first relates to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that might concern investors worried about a potential flood of selling by investors who had acquired their stock at lower levels. The second concerns the blacklisting of the company as part of China's export controls, and the third is a legal matter.
An overhang of shares for sale? On June 5th, the company filed an S-3/A registration statement with the SEC covering the potential resale of 93,822,662 shares, representing 35.2% of the company's issued and outstanding common stock on a diluted basis.
The selling stockholders include shares acquired at much lower prices than the current stock price via business combinations, the conversion of preferred stock and warrants, share purchase agreements, and private investment in public equity (PIPE) transactions.
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It's important to stress that there's nothing unusual about the filing, and the company was legally obligated to file it. Still, the potential overhang of shares for sale in such a large amount is bound to cause investor concern, particularly for a company that clearly needs investment to build magnet production and ultimately develop the Round Top mine in 2028.
China blacklists USA Rare Earth Toward late June, China added USA Rare Earth and its peer MP Materials to its list of companies with restricted access to Chinese technology. While neither company buys or sells directly from China, the export restrictions also cover Chinese components used in final products that could be sold to USA Rare Earth and MP Materials. Consequently, they may need to reassess their supply chains, which could affect both companies at a time when they are looking to ramp up magnet production and acquire rare-earth processing technology.
MP Materials lawsuit against USA Rare Earth Finally, MP Materials is taking legal action against USA Rare Earth, alleging that "USA Rare Earth Inc. stole its proprietary technology through a former employee," according to a Bloomberg report. While lawsuits are, unfortunately, not uncommon among peers in the U.S, the legal challenge is a distraction in the future.
Image source: Getty Images.
Where next for USA Rare Earth The events in June highlight that, as exciting as the company's long-term prospects are, there's still a long way to go, with plenty of execution risk ahead, the potential for further shareholder dilution, and the risk of concerted selling pressure taking its toll on the stock.
That said, the company is one of the solutions to the challenge of securing a domestic supply of rare earth materials and magnets, and while that remains the case, it's likely to find favor among the government and investors.
USA Rare Earth zůstává ve ztrátě, protože vyšší provozní náklady a růst výdajů stlačily výsledky; v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 vykázala ztrátu 34 centů na akcii. Firma zároveň spustila první fázi výroby magnetů, což jí umožní začít plnit objednávky ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026.
Key Takeaways USAR remains unprofitable as expansion, acquisitions and workforce growth lift operating costs.Q1 2026 SG&A rose to $21.2M and R&D increased to $14.2M, contributing to a 34-cent per-share loss.USA Rare Earth commissioned Phase 1a magnet production, enabling Q2 2026 customer orders. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) is still in the early phases of commercialization and continues to incur losses as it scales its operations. Though the company started generating revenues following the acquisition of Less Common Metals, higher operating expenses related to expansion, acquisitions and workforce growth are pressuring its profitability.
USAR’s cost of product revenues was $5.59 million in the first quarter of 2026. The figure was 98.1% of total revenues. In the same period, its selling, general and administrative expenses surged to $21.2 million from $7 million in the year-ago quarter owing to increasing legal & consulting costs, higher headcount & recruiting fees and other costs.
USAR’s research and development expenses climbed to $14.2 million compared with $1.7 million reported in the year-ago quarter due to higher employee-related and development costs. Consequently, the company posted a loss of 34 cents per share for the quarter.
However, USAR recently reached a significant milestone by commissioning Phase 1a of its commercial magnet production line at its Stillwater, OK, facility. This enables USAR to start fulfilling customer orders for sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets in the second quarter of 2026.
While USA Rare Earth is making steady progress in expanding its operations, continued losses and cost pressures remain challenges. The company’s ability to balance growth investments with improving revenues and cost discipline is expected to benefit it in the quarters ahead.
USAR’s Peer PerformanceAmong its major peers, NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) is experiencing rising cost pressures. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Niocorp reported a significant year-over-year increase in operating expenses, primarily driven by spending related to the advancement of the Elk Creek Project. If these elevated costs persist, they could weigh on NioCorp’s margins and profitability.
Its another peer, Rio Tinto Group (RIO - Free Report) , is gaining from rising copper production, driven by strong operational performance across its assets. However, weather-related disruptions in 2025 affected Rio Tinto’s iron ore volumes. Planned maintenance activities at some copper mining projects temporarily reduced Rio Tinto’s output in 2025, while cost pressures from inflation and higher sustaining capital spending impacted margins.
USAR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of USAR have gained 85.8% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 58.1%.
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From a valuation standpoint, USAR is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 70.07X against the industry’s average of 15.85X. USA Rare Earth has a Value Score of F.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 earnings has decreased over the past 60 days.
USA Rare Earth získala celkem 3,5 miliardy USD na vybudování domácího řetězce od dolu až po magnety. Firma zároveň plánuje novou továrnu na magnety v Jižní Karolíně a rozvoj dolu Round Top v Texasu.
Rare-earth magnets are central to many modern technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense and missile guidance systems, and advanced consumer electronics. For years, the U.S. has become dependent on China for mining and processing raw materials into refined magnets, a trend that has grown into a national security concern.
The U.S. is taking steps to achieve full independence in producing rare-earth permanent magnets by reshoring the supply chain, including mining, processing, and manufacturing of these crucial materials. This "mine-to-magnet" strategy has put several mining companies on the map, including USA Rare Earth (USAR 5.37%).
Over the past year, USA Rare Earth has raised significant capital from the U.S. government and outside investors to build its supply chain. Does that make the stock a buy today? Let's dive into the company and find out.
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USA Rare Earth has raised significant capital Earlier this month, USA Rare Earth finalized an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce for up to $1.6 billion in federal funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This funding package consists of $277 million in direct grants and up to $1.3 billion in senior secured loan capacity. In return, the federal government received 16.1 million common shares and 17.6 million warrants.
In addition to this federal funding, the company secured another $1.5 billion in private placement funds in January, bringing total liquidity to $3.5 billion. This funding is crucial for USA Rare Earth to build out its domestic mine-to-magnet supply chain, including developing the Round Top mine in Texas and expanding its processing and manufacturing capabilities.
The mine-to-magnet company has made some huge moves USA Rare Earth is building out its near-term capabilities and has made several key acquisitions to do so. Last year, it acquired U.K.-based Less Common Metals (LCM) for $100 million in cash, plus 6.5 million shares. Building on this, in April, it acquired Serra Verde Group for approximately $2.8 billion, structured via $300 million in cash and 126.8 million newly issued common shares.
Image source: Getty Images.
This move is crucial to helping USA Rare Earth get off the ground and running. That's because Serra Verde's Pela Ema mine in Brazil is currently the only operating, large-scale producer outside Asia that supplies all four primary magnetic rare-earth elements.
In addition, the company recently announced a $1.2 billion magnet manufacturing facility in South Carolina. Combining this with its acquisition of LCM and its active permanent magnet facilities in Oklahoma helps USA Rare Earth bridge the gap between raw extraction and finished commercial products.
The expansion efforts by USA Rare Earth have management projecting that the company will reach a magnet manufacturing run rate of 600 metric tons per annum (MPTA) at its Oklahoma facility, along with 3,000 MPTA of metal-making and alloy capacity through its LCM subsidiary.
In the longer term, the company is targeting annualized production capacity of 10,000 tons of rare-earth metal alloys and 10,000 tons of Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets, positioning it to capture high-margin market share across the defense, electric vehicle, and semiconductor sectors.
Is USA Rare Earth for you? USA Rare Earth is making progress on building its mine-to-magnet supply chain, and recent acquisitions have given its business a big boost. Looking ahead, the company will continue advancing its Round Top mine in Texas, which is rich in heavy rare-earth elements critical to the production of high-heat permanent magnets.
Another benefit of this mine is that its mineralization enables cleaner, cheaper processing of these rare-earth elements, which could enable low-cost production and provide a notable competitive advantage for USA Rare Earth. The company hopes to begin commercial production at Round Top as soon as 2028.
With this in mind, USA Rare Earth is still undergoing massive expansion efforts that will be expensive for shareholders. Its dealings with the U.S. government and other acquisitions have diluted shareholders, and scaling its mining and processing capabilities will take time, underscoring the risks of owning early-stage, start-up mining stocks.
USA Rare Earth spustila demonstrační zařízení v Coloradu a plánuje začít vyrábět komerční oxidy vzácných zemin ve 3. čtvrtletí 2026. Teck mezitím posiluje svou sázku na měď prostřednictvím plánované fúze s Anglo American.
Key Takeaways USAR commissioned a Colorado facility targeting separated rare earth oxide output in Q3 2026.USAR's Stillwater magnet line targets 600 metric tons annually by end-2026, doubling by Q1 2027.TECK plans major copper growth through Anglo Teck and advancing Zafranal and San Nicolas projects. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) and Teck Resources Limited (TECK - Free Report) are key participants in the Zacks Mining - Miscellaneous industry. Both companies are engaged in the extraction, processing and development of minerals that are essential to modern technologies and industrial applications. USAR and TECK are well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for critical materials used in electrification, clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
Both companies operate in capital-intensive mining industries that require extensive investments in infrastructure, advanced technologies and project development, while also navigating regulatory clearances and regulatory approval processes. At the same time, growing demand for minerals and metals critical to electric vehicles, renewable energy and other clean-energy technologies is creating favorable long-term growth opportunities for these companies.
The Case for USARUSA Rare Earth has commissioned its hydrometallurgical demonstration facility in Wheat Ridge, CO, in June 2026, marking a key step in building an integrated rare earth supply chain outside China. The company expects to begin producing commercial-quality separated rare earth oxides, including NdPr, dysprosium and terbium, in the third quarter of 2026.
The facility will process material from multiple sources, including the Round Top facility, third-party feedstocks and recycled magnet swarf, while supporting feasibility studies and future commercial-scale operations.
Also, the successful commissioning of Phase 1a of USAR’s commercial magnet production line at its Stillwater, OK, facility marks an important milestone in USAR’s growth strategy. The development enables the company to begin supplying sintered NdFeB permanent magnets to customers starting in the second quarter of 2026.
The commissioning demonstrates USA Rare Earth’s capability to operate a complex rare earth magnet manufacturing process at a commercial scale. At its Stillwater facility, USAR transforms rare earth materials into high-performance NdFeB permanent magnets through a series of production steps used in end markets such as defense, aerospace and automotive.
The Phase 1a is expected to achieve an annual production run rate of 600 metric tons by the end of 2026, while the planned Phase 1b expansion is projected to double total capacity to 1,200 metric tons annually by the first quarter of 2027. Once fully operational, the Stillwater facility is expected to be among the first large-scale NdFeB magnet manufacturing facilities in the United States, supporting a more resilient domestic rare earth supply chain.
USAR has strengthened its growth strategy through a combination of financing and acquisitions. In June 2026, the company secured access to up to $1.6 billion in government-backed funding under the CHIPS Program from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The package includes up to $277 million in federal funding and up to $1.3 billion in loan support as the company advances key development milestones.
In May 2026, USA Rare Earth secured a $14.2 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to boost the development of its Round Top Mountain rare earth project in West Texas, aimed at supporting domestic supply chains for critical minerals used in defense, semiconductors, AI and advanced technologies.
Also, in March 2026, USAR agreed to acquire Texas Mineral Resources Corp. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $73 million, giving it full ownership of the Round Top Project. The company expects commercial production at Round Top to begin in 2028, with a long-term goal of processing nearly 40,000 metric tons of rare earth and critical mineral feedstock per day by 2030. The November 2025 acquisition of Less Common Metals is expected to provide critical metal and alloy feedstock for the Stillwater plant.
While USAR is making progress with its growth initiatives, it is still in the early stages of commercialization and continues to report losses as it scales its operations. While the acquisition of Less Common Metals has started contributing to revenues, profitability remains under pressure from higher operating expenses associated with expansion efforts, acquisitions and workforce additions.
In the first quarter of 2026, selling, general and administrative expenses surged to $21.2 million from $7 million in the prior-year period, driven by higher legal, consulting and personnel-related costs. Research and development expenses also rose to $14.2 million from $1.7 million a year ago, reflecting increased investment in product development and growth initiatives.
The Case for TECKAs part of its long-term growth strategy, Teck Resources is increasing its focus on copper and other critical minerals that are essential for electrification and clean energy technologies. The company has agreed to merge with Anglo American plc to form the Anglo Teck group, creating one of the world's largest copper-focused mining companies. It will have more than 70% exposure to copper and is set to be among the top five global copper producers. The new company will consist of six world-class copper assets and premium iron ore and zinc operations with a combined annual copper production of 1.2 million tons. It is projected to grow 10% to 1.35 million tons by 2027, strengthening its position in the global copper market.
Teck Resources is further strengthening its copper growth pipeline by advancing several development projects toward sanction readiness. The company is progressing with permitting activities, securing land access and refining the business cases for its Zafranal and San Nicolás projects.
Zafranal is expected to have a mine life of 19 years and produce copper-gold concentrates through open-pit mining and conventional processing. The project is anticipated to generate an average of 126,000 tons of contained copper annually during its first five years of operation. Meanwhile, the San Nicolás project is advancing through the feasibility study stage and is expected to produce approximately 63,000 tons of copper and 147,000 tons of zinc annually during its first five years, on a 100% ownership basis.
Also, the Highland Valley Mine Life Extension is expected to extend the mine’s life from 2028 to 2046. Expected average annual copper production will likely be 132,000 tons over the life of the mine. The company expects to increase copper production to around 800,000 tons before the end of this decade.
However, the company’s zinc in concentrate production declined to 120 thousand tons in the first quarter of 2026 from 137 thousand tons a year earlier, reflecting lower grades at Red Dog in line with the mine plan. TECK expects zinc production to trend lower over the next three years as the mine approaches the end of its life. Full-year 2026 zinc production guidance is 410-460 thousand tons compared with 565 thousand tons produced in 2025.
Operating costs at several assets increased year over year due to higher contractor, energy and maintenance expenses. The company highlighted exposure to fuel price volatility and higher freight and explosives costs linked to geopolitical developments. Even though there is currently no significant risk of fuel supply disruption, the company expects an impact on costs at its Chilean operations due to the requirement for diesel imports.
How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for USAR & TECK?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 35 cents per share. Also, the company’s consensus estimate for the 2027 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 32 cents per share.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TECK’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at $3.35 per share. Also, the company’s consensus estimate for 2027 bottom line is pegged at $2.89 per share.
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Price Performance and Valuation of USAR & TECKIn the past year, USAR’s shares have surged 103%, while TECK stock has gained 71.9%.
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USA Rare Earth is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of negative 73.33X while Teck Resources’ forward earnings multiple sits at 21.39X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Final TakeUSAR is benefiting from the ramp-up of its commercial magnet production line, along with strategic acquisitions and investments designed to build a fully integrated domestic rare earth supply chain. The acquisitions of Less Common Metals and Texas Mineral Resources are expected to enhance the company’s operational capabilities and support its long-term growth strategy. However, USAR remains in the early stages of commercialization and continues to incur losses as it invests in capacity expansion, technology development and other growth initiatives.
In contrast, Teck Resources’ strong performance in the coming quarters is supported by its scale of operation, asset diversity and strategic transformation. The planned merger with Anglo American will create a global copper and critical minerals leader, with more than 70% exposure to copper. Though near-term zinc in concentrate production at Red Dog has been impacted by operational issues, TECK’s long-life assets and growth projects are expected to lower execution risk.
Given these factors, TECK seems a better pick for investors than USAR currently. While TECK Materials carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present, USA Rare Earth has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Čína 22. června přidala 10 amerických společností na seznam kontrol vývozu, včetně MP Materials a USA Rare Earth, ale obě akcie za posledních pět dní vzrostly. Trh to bere jako potvrzení jejich strategického významu pro dodavatelské řetězce vzácných zemin.
On June 22, China added 10 U.S. companies to its export-control list, including rare-earth mining companies MP Materials (MP 3.85%) and USA Rare Earth (USAR 5.37%). Both stocks are up over the past five days, despite the news.
The restrictions are designed to stop dual-use item exports from China from reaching the companies. While the news appears negative on its face, the market often interprets these actions as a long-term validation of the companies' strategic importance and a catalyst for increased domestic government support.
Here are two reasons why the two mining stocks are climbing, and one reason to be cautious.
Image source: Getty Images.
The move is proof of strategic necessity China's decision to blacklist these firms serves as official confirmation that they are the primary credible threats to China's near-monopoly on rare-earth supply chains. For investors, this serves as a seal of approval, indicating that the companies have reached a level of operational maturity sufficient to disrupt Beijing's leverage.
While sanctions introduce operational hurdles, they paradoxically lower the risk that these companies will be undercut by state-subsidized Chinese imports in the future.
Retaliatory actions from China often accelerate the release of federal grants, low-interest loans, and Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. For instance, both companies have already secured massive backing, including a $400 million DoD investment in MP Materials and $1.6 billion in Commerce Department funding for USA Rare Earth to insulate them from Chinese supply disruptions.
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The supply chain decoupling has already begun The practical impact of these specific bans is often limited or symbolic. Both companies have spent the past year aggressively de-risking their supply chains. MP Materials and USA Rare Earth have largely transitioned away from relying on Chinese-sourced equipment or dual-use precursors.
Because they operate outside the Chinese-controlled ecosystem, they are increasingly able to command premium prices for non-China-certified rare-earths, which are in high demand among defense contractors and Western electric vehicle manufacturers subject to new trade regulations.
The move by China is also a reaction to the G7 agreement last week to cap rare-earth reliance on non-partner countries to below 60% by 2030.
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Still, there are concerns The operational reality remains challenging. Investors must weigh the long-term strategic support against potential near-term headwinds.
If these firms are barred from accessing specialized Chinese-made processing equipment or dual-use parts, they may face higher capital expenditures or project delays as they scramble to find alternative (often more expensive) suppliers.
On top of that, neither of the two companies is close to being profitable, and they're just beginning to ramp up production. MP Materials, in its first quarter, reported $90.6 million in revenue, up 49%, year over year, thanks to increased sales of NdPr oxide and metal, used in rare-earth magnets, but it had an earnings per share (EPS) loss of $0.04, compared to a loss of $0.12 in the same quarter in 2025.
USA Rare Earths' Round Top project in Texas isn't fully operational. It just commissioned a hydrometallurgical demonstration facility in Colorado, with production of separated oxides expected by the third quarter of the year. In the first quarter, the company had no revenue in the first quarter to go with its EPS loss of $0.34.
USA Rare Earth zprovoznila demonstrační hydrometalurgické zařízení ve Wheat Ridge a začala testovat rudu, externí suroviny i recyklovaný magnetický odpad. Firma očekává, že data podpoří studii proveditelnosti Round Top do 1. čtvrtletí 2027.
Key Takeaways USAR commissioned its Wheat Ridge demo facility to advance domestic rare earth processing.USAR began testing ore, third-party feedstock and recycled magnet swarf processing.USAR expects campaign data to support the Round Top feasibility study due by Q1 2027. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) is advancing its growth strategy with the successful commissioning of its hydrometallurgical demonstration facility in Wheat Ridge, CO. This milestone marks a key step in the company's efforts to establish a fully integrated domestic rare earth supply chain and positions it to begin producing separated heavy rare earth oxides in the third quarter of 2026.
Over the past year, USAR expanded its integrated platform of proprietary technologies and capabilities spanning mining, processing and separation, metals, alloys and magnets. The company also prepared the Wheat Ridge facility for demonstration-scale operations to support future commercial processing activities.
The facility has started initial campaigns to test and optimize three processing methods simultaneously: processing ore from the Round Top project, processing third-party mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) feedstock, including material from Serra Verde's Pela Ema mine, and recycling rare earth magnet swarf. The resulting oxides are expected to support downstream metal, alloy and magnet production through Less Common Metals, one of the few commercial-scale metal, alloy and strip cast producers outside China. Heavy rare earth oxides such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium are critical materials used in defense, energy, electric vehicle and other advanced technology applications.
The demonstration campaigns are expected to generate operational data that will support the Round Top Definitive Feasibility Study, which remains on track for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026 and publication in the first quarter of 2027. As operations advance, the Wheat Ridge facility is expected to play an important role in strengthening the U.S. rare earth supply chain.
Snapshot of USA Rare Earth’s PeersAmong its major peers, NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) is working to move its Elk Creek Project in Nebraska closer to production. In August 2025, NioCorp completed its first drilling program at the Elk Creek Project on schedule and within budget. In February 2026, NioCorp started construction of the main underground access for its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in southeast Nebraska.
USAR’s other peer, Trilogy Metals Inc. (TMQ - Free Report) , continues to make steady progress at the Ambler mining district. Although Trilogy is not yet in production, it is taking a step ahead with Ambler Metals LLC, which is a joint venture with South32 Limited. In July 2025, Trilogy began a multi-year core re-boxing program to protect drill core for long-term future use.
USAR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of USAR have gained 90% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 50.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, USAR is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 71.85X against the industry’s average of 14.92X. USA Rare Earth carries a Value Score of F.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 earnings has decreased over the past 30 days.
